Somersaulter



July 4, 1939. w. e. BOLCOM SOMERSAULTER Filed Aug. 17, 1956 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to physical culture apparatus, and has reference to a device which may properly be referred to as a somersaulter.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a simple device for imparting to the human body the benefits of turning somersaults without the physical effort of having to do so in the normal manner.

Another object is to produce such a device which may be readily controlled by the rider at any time during the operation of the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device embodying the invention, and partly in section.

Figure 2 is an elevation taken at right angles to Figure 1, viewing the device from the end opposite to the power end.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective View of one of the rotary switch handles for selective control of the motor.

I represents the rotor or mount which is of fabricated construction and of a length slightly less than the distance between the arm pits of an ordinary person, and of a diameter convenient for one to mount readily in belly-flop manner; the size of which may be varied to suit circumstances, and the one here illustrated is padded for comfort and in any desired manner.

The construction of the rotor or mount may employ concave-convex disc like end members 2, each having a hub 3 thereupon for fixed engagement to the shaft 4 upon which the rotor is mounted, and these discs are united circumferentially by the band 5 which carries the upholstering or padding, before referred to. An annular flange 6 is formed circumferentially about the disc members 2 and about which flange the handholds 'i on one end of the rotor are fixed, while on the opposite end the handholes 8 are all rotatable for the purpose hereinafter described.

The shaft l is mounted within the upper end of the two opposed pedestal like members 9, there preferably being suitable roller bearings indicated at II] for such mounting, and I have illustrated the lower base portion of the pedestals 9 as being united by a sheet metal platform I! l to insure convenience in moving the device about as well as for stability in the union of the two pedestals. This platform or floor may be padded as illustrated at I2 or covered with a suitable mat to provide resiliency or yieldability in the event of a rider of the rotor experiencing a fall.

Near the base and to the outer side of one pedestal 9 there is shown a fabricated bracket 3 for the support of the driving motor I l which is belted as at E5 to a sheave IS on the protruding end of the rotor shaft 4, though it is to be understood that some other form of driving connection may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The handholds 8 about one end of the rotor are illustrated as being rotatable and acting as means for switching on and off the electric current to the motor i l, they each being mounted upon and fixed to a bolt l'i so that the latter turns when the handhclds are turned. Each handhold 83 has a disc like inner terminal l8 which contacts the disc l9 carrying the suitable rheostat installation, the contact points of which are illustrated at 20 and are consecutively engaged by the contact arm 2! integrally formed with the hub 22 fixed to the bolt ll. Obviously the greater resistance to the current when turned on will occur when the nearest contact point 20 to the contact arm 2! is engaged, so that in this manner and at the will of the operator the speed of the rotor may be governed. There is indicated at 23 a contact for one line of the electric circuit, while at 24 the opposite side of the circuit is illustrated; this control of the power circuit being deemed essential so that at any time during the use of the machine the rider may govern the action of the mount. Obviously there may be various other ways in which the electric contacts may be accomplished, with like results.

The object of providing a number of protruding handholds or handles l and 8 is particularly to accommodate different sized riders and the hollow or concaved head of the rotor has a convenience in that when the device is ridden by a child or younger person frequently the feet or lower portion of the limbs become readily engaged about the chime or rim of the rotor, or about the handholds not engaged by the hands of the rider.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A somersaulter of the type described comprising a mountable rotative member, supports for said member upon either side thereof and of suflicient spaced relation to permit the rider passing therebetween while on the member, power means for activating the member, and means extending from the ends of said member for control of said power means by the rider while on said member, said control means acting as holdfast means for the rider while on the member.

2. A somersaulter of the type described comprising a mountable rotative member, suitable means for rotatably supporting said member, power supply for rotating said member and combined holdfast and power control means carried upon the end of said member.

3. A somersaulter of the type described comprising a mountable rotative member, means for rotatably supporting said member, hand and leg engaging means extending from the ends of said member, power means for rotating said member and certain of said hand and leg engaging means carried by the member being operative by the rider for selective control of said power supply means.

4. A somersaulter of the character described comprising spaced supports, a shaft journalled in said supports, power means for rotating said shaft, a mountable rotor fixed to said shaft intermediate of said supports, handholds upon opposite ends of said rotor, certain of said handholds operative as control means for said power means.

5. A somersaulter of the character described comprising spaced supports, a shaft journalled in said supports, power means for rotating said shaft, a mountable rotor fixed to said shaft intermediate of said supports, handholds upon opposite ends of said rotor, certain of said handholds operative as control means for said power means, said rotor further characterized by the ends thereof being materially concaved intermediate of said handholds and the hub-like central portion of the ends of the rotor as additional holdfast means for a rider when mounted upon said rotor.

WIN'FRED G. BOLCOM. 

